Mourinho, meanwhile, managed Javier Zanetti - also 40 and still playing at Inter Milan - during his time in Italy.

And the Blues' boss believes Terry, despite being a controversial figure in English football, could yet earn himself the same legendary status.

Mourinho said: "I think even when a player with a big history in a club doesn't play the same, doesn't perform the same - like for example Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes last season. Or Zanetti in Inter - these kind of players are always important.

"They should never lose their status. What they can lose is pace on the pitch, and that is a decision of the manager, according to his way of analysing things.

"But the status, the respect, the voice... these players should always keep that. The players must be comfortable whether they're picked or not, they should always feel important. John is playing a lot - he's played every match in the Premier League - but he's not playing internationally.

(Image: Getty)

"While the other lads go to their countries, he stays at the club and takes care of himself and his body. That helps him to be at the level he is."

The game against Stoke, however, is set to be his 15th start of the season - four more than he made in the whole of last term under Rafa Benitez.

Mourinho added: "His self-esteem had been affected in relation to last season. He was a bit affected. I think he felt, in a quiet way, the pain of doubts about him.

"So yes, I told him, 'I'm not here to help you. I'm not here to give you anything you don't deserve. But I believe if you work really hard from day one, I think you have a chance to play more than you did last season.'

"I was far from thinking he'd play the first 14 matches consecutively in a row, but he's doing well, working and behaving well, and I'm pleased with him.

"At this age, it's a thing of going year after year. At this age, sometimes players reach a level of stability where they become the same - 33, 34, 35, 36.

(Image: Marco Luzzani)

"I look at Zanetti in 2008 and Zanetti in 2012, and he's the same. There are other guys who are very good one season and not the same, for some reason, the next.

"These guys have to enjoy. They have to play with the same ambition. They have to enjoy the moment and not be worried about contracts, or time of contract, or one more pound or less pound in a contract, and enjoy it to the last day.